Headline:
Fire Weather Watch issued July 23 at 4:35AM PDT until July 25 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Event:
Fire Weather Watch
Urgency:
Future
Effective:
July 23, 2026 - 4:35am
Expires:
July 23, 2026 - 8:00pm
Description:
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY, FIRE WEATHER
WATCHES FOR WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...
A ridge breakdown will first bring a threat for thunderstorms
across portions of central and north-central Washington today and
tonight. Drier weather arrives Friday and Saturday, though winds
will become increasingly gusty with critical fire weather
conditions likely.
* Affected Area: Okanogan Valley (Zone 703), Methow Valley (Zone
704) and Foothills of Central Washington Cascades (Zone 705).
* Winds: Gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 35mph possible in
any thunderstorms Thursday. West 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to
30 mph Friday, windiest in Okanogan Valley. Saturday, winds 15
to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
* Timing: For the Red Flag Warning, there is an isolated threat
for lightning Thursday morning. Scattered thunderstorms are
then expected Thursday afternoon into early Friday morning. For
the Fire Weather Watch, critical wind and humidity values are
expected Friday and Saturday afternoons.
* Relative Humidities: 13 to 21 percent Friday, 14 to 26 percent
Saturday.
* Temperatures: Up to 98 Friday, and up to 94 Saturday.
* Lightning: A 5 to 10% chance of lightning Thursday morning,
with a 30% chance Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.
* Impacts: New fire starts from lightning Thursday. New and
existing fires could be impacted by gusty outflow winds. Gusty
winds and low humidity Saturday afternoon may lead to rapid
fire spread with any new or ongoing fires.
Instruction:
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.
Area Description:
Okanogan Valley; Methow Valley; Central Washington Cascade Foothills
Forcast Office:
NWS Spokane WA
Sender:
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov